At a low whistle he observed the veteran peeping out to
reconnoitre, like an old badger with his head out of his hole. 'Ye hae
come rather early, my good lad,' said he, descending; 'I question if the
red-coats hae beat the tattoo yet, and we're not safe till then.'
'Good news cannot be told too soon,' said Waverley; and with infinite joy
communicated to him the happy tidings. The old man stood for a moment in
silent devotion, then exclaimed, 'Praise be to God! I shall see my bairn
again.'
'And never, I hope, to part with her more,' said Waverley.
'I trust in God not, unless it be to win the means of supporting her; for
my things are but in a bruckle state;--but what signifies warld's gear?'
'And if,' said Waverley modestly, 'there were a situation in life which
would put Miss Bradwardine beyond the uncertainty of fortune, and in the
rank to which she was born, would you object to it, my dear Baron,
because it would make one of your friends the happiest man in the world?'
The Baron turned and looked at him with great earnestness. 'Yes,'
continued Edward, 'I shall not consider my sentence of banishment as
repealed unless you will give me permission to accompany you to the
Duchran, and--'
The Baron seemed collecting all his dignity to make a suitable reply to
what, at another time, he would have treated as the propounding a treaty
of alliance between the houses of Bradwardine and Waverley.
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